Tick Talk
[Moderator Emeritus]
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A historic perspective on the FiftySix
Historically, VC has often called into service second quality timepieces and less expensive manufacturing techniques when the economy of the day required. This quote from a letter written by Francois Constantin in 1821 might still apply:
It is absolutely necessary to abandon making more expensive pieces with our name. All the other companies, even Bautte, put their name to quality less than our own, so as to let them go at a better price...Let us keep our lines as they are but let us concentrate on their reliability, for these splendid watchmakers have have no taste for a fine watch that stops; they prefer an ordinary one which does not stop.
Early thoughts on the new VC FiftySix?
So the affordable VC has debuted; under $12k in steel. Vacheron Constantin Hodinkee states the inspiration was the ref 6073, but I don't see it. ArtValue The savings comes partly from an out-sourced movement. Curiously, the example revealed by Hodinkee "l...
Does not look like JLC to me since it uses Etachron-style regulation.
I’m eager to get conformation but I’d expect this is a ValFleurier. In both respects, this falls short of my expectations. Very intriguing that the press and live shots show so many differences as pointed out. It will be interesting to see more pics over ...
It seams that is a pre-mature picture
On the VC homepage, they show a more classical VC movement
Really disappointed
Was hoping for something with a little more substance. For the time only I wish they omitted a date, this is never usually an issue for me but it is tiny, set too far into the dial and unadorned, could have been framed with an applied finish. They could h...
It's probably the first time i've ever said that
For fear of sounding like the 'no date' gang, but this as a time only solid case back with a darker dial could have been a contender. Don't mind the size but maybe the will expand the collection to add a small clean time only.
Absolutely
For that reason i'm not sure why this reach downwards market wise was even necessary? They have watches under £10k in Steel, neither of which compromise the VC standards.
I hope they have their market right.
Ideally, this isn't a bit of a floundering response to the OS and Qd'I not selling. That's not based on any sort of knowledge. I thought Richemont was doing better recently. I had heard ALS is at a loss as to why only one American (in New Jersey) buys the...
The teaser was also problematic
From my point of view, you had some very well know watch industry personalities featured in the promo, nobody at any stage made suggestions regarding the date for example, knowing the market as they do.
Other than the signature...
... I see nothing that would speak to VCs self determined core values. The date looks completely out of line due to the small print and it’s location. The case seems some sort of crossover between the Quai d´Ille and the Overseas. The concept of making an...
We can see a "look" developing for the steel models
A correction just appeared on the Hodinkee report, as follows: Vacheron has clarified that this is not a Jaeger-LeCoultre movement; it's produced by the Richemont Group's Manufacture Horlogère ValFleurier and finished, assembled, and regulated by Vacheron...
Not sure if the size will be that problematic...
Always a matter of taste but I found the 41mm of the Quay to fit quite well on my slender wrist - and I like smaller watches. But of course it's all in the eyes of the beholder
Not so bad. I prefer the steel version but I hope all these grey hues exist in real and not only in pictures. The Maltese Cross on the rotor is pretty nice too like the case shape
Of course, this dial would have been much better without this tiny ugly date. For me, it gives a cheaper look to this watch. Best wishes Alkiro
Any idea what this unused pivot is for?
Looks like maybe it has pivots for direct central seconds (usually towards the center of the movement like here) and small seconds? Whatever it is, it looks sloppy. Other ideas welcome! ...
Like drphileasfogg said, like a JLC but with better finishing
However, I think at the lower end of VC, that's not bad at all. Maybe more stylistically could have been done to distinguish it, buuuuut, you don't want to alienate customers either. WISes are not the audience or target market here. I do hope it sells wel...
terrible idea..sourced movement and brings the brand..
down! They increased all prices e.g. Historique even more expensive as a line and then this ? It makes no sense to me. Vacheron is moving further away from Patek, AP, Lange etc.
Cutting prices are always a good thing.
Lange did it as well with the 35mm and 37mm Saxonias, but with no reduction in quality of finishing. This may well hurt VC in the long run...
I am a big fan of the move
The reality is that VC can't compete with Patek. An entry-level model at such a price point is a great move. As for the design, I could do without the date, but as I do not have a VC (and the budget is limited after recent purchases) and if the entry-leve...
Ooh, a bold opinion!
Agreed, they have been looking for ways to bring in people for a while. This is what the QdL was supposed to do. I do think a VC Traditionelle trounces a calatrava to the point of being clearly superior and the Cornes de Vaches competes with any dress chr...
Haha
Actually I think a Saxonia is superior to the Traditionelle (hence why I got an ALS). As for the Calatrava, I am getting one in part because it is truly old school and there are enough differences between it and the Saxonia (Roman Numerals etc). The Saxon...
Isn't this brand Richemont with the VC name on the dial?
The use of in-house movement is overrated, so no issue for me there. I just don't see how this collection represents VC... It's a marketing exercise. A more accessible price point might attract new and younger customers, but it's done in the expense of lo...
Mixed feelings
The low price is a good point, but i agree that without the VC name upon the dial it could have been a JLC, or IWC, or else. I don't know why but it seems there's no global strategy; the overseas was introduced last year with a whole line up. I'm not a ma...
Okay, is this the VC inspiration?
Seems kinda like it, except the original looks classier! ...
I love it!
I like the case, the size, the date, the rotor with the cross, the clasp, the dial with the railtracks, and yes, the price point. This will be most likely my first VC, so they got me! Not sure which model yet, though.
The FiftySix day-date steel reminds me of the 2nd gen overseas deep stream dual time. [nt]
Not just because of the dial color but because of the overall "feel".
the marketing campaign that goes with the FiftySix is very entertaining
The High Watchmaking Gentlemen's Club, "featuring stylish, audacious and free-spirited individuals on social media". Check it out here:
Hehe.
Or you could describe them another way. I just don’t get marketing approaches sometimes, and I say that working hand in hand with them daily. I wonder what focus group showed a good response to this? At least these guys dress relatively well. It could be ...
A historic perspective on the FiftySix
Historically, VC has often called into service second quality timepieces and less expensive manufacturing techniques when the economy of the day required. This quote from a letter written by Francois Constantin in 1821 might still apply: It is absolutely ...
Not impressed
My VC Boutique contact says it’s a Piaget derived movement and doesn’t have a Geneva poincon. Definitely a move downmarket. Remove the VC Logo and this could be a Zenith, JLC or something else a step down. Not that impressed. The only highlight is the pri...
at 12k$* I would rather go for
Saxonia Thin 37mm in precious metal ! Beautiful movement, finish...what else as a customer I would think of ?! Best, Mahesh.,